Controversial opinions on metal

[Oblivious Maximus]

They are less ambient and more song based lately, but it's well done. The Assassination album features (IMO) a HUGE Depeche Mode/Kraftwerk Influence (Mostly Electric Cafe/Techno Pop, some Tour de France, MFTM, Violator, SOFAD, some Ultra).

Assassination is one of their best albums. The upcoming album seems to be in the same vein based on "Russian Doll" and "Little Boy". Fine by me.

 

[J.]

However, I really like the next era: Perdition City, the Silence EPs, Lyckantropen Themes, Svidd neger. They were really good at these atmospheric electronic sounds with jazz and/or classical elements. However, they lost me when they went to more conventional song writing with Blood Inside, Shadows of the Sun, Wars of the Roses.

This 100%

 

[EspaDa]

After liking Agalloch for a while, I can say now that their shit doesn't hold up anymore. Its a damn chore to even sit through a song.

Why? A good band. Even though their last album was not a good swan song, their previous full-length offerings were top-notch stuff. This album rocks in particular.

 

[Sophii]

Why? A good band. Even though their last album was not a good swan song, their previous full-length offerings were top-notch stuff. This album rocks in particular.

I mean their early stuff is pretty good as far as that melo-black /post-black stuff goes, but I can't dig any of their newer stuff prior to the split. I'll stick to those first few and maybe The Mantle every once in a while.

 

[Der Morgenstern]

The only Agalloch album I have time for anymore is Marrow of the Spirit. It's the only one I can listen to all the way thorugh and still thoroughly enjoyed.

 

[crimsonfloyd]

Why? A good band. Even though their last album was not a good swan song, their previous full-length offerings were top-notch stuff. This album rocks in particular.

The criticisms on here are overstated. Their primary “indie” influences were European folk, 80s goth rock, and post-rock. It‘s not like there are passages inspired by The Shins or something. They released four great records that all did something distinct from its predecessor. And yeah, their last album was pretty pedestrian, but at least they had the sense to end the band before releasing 20 albums rehashing Pale Folklore.

 

[EspaDa]

I mean their early stuff is pretty good as far as that melo-black /post-black stuff goes, but I can't dig any of their newer stuff prior to the split. I'll stick to those first few and maybe The Mantle every once in a while.

The Mantle is definitely a great album, but it's Ashes Against the Grain that does the job for me. It's their creative apex tbh. Pale Folkore is great as well. And The Mantle has Agalloch's best track - In the Shadow of Our Pale Companion. Otherworldly stuff.

 

[Sophii]

The Mantle is definitely a great album, but it's Ashes Against the Grain that does the job for me. It's their creative apex tbh. Pale Folkore is great as well. And The Mantle has Agalloch's best track - In the Shadow of Our Pale Companion. Otherworldly stuff.

Tbh, these days if I were to look into folk-influenced black metal stuff, my go to is definitely Panopticon. Mainly because I relate to the bluegrass style they incorporate (being from GA, hearing actual bluegrass is good shit.)

 

[SonOfNun]

The B side of Paranoid is better than the A side.

 

[CiG]

Oof that's a tough one. My two least favourite songs are each on different sides, as are my favourite two songs...

 

[SonOfNun]

I'm not totally convinced by my own stance. I just really, really like Electric Funeral and Hand of Doom.

 

[CiG]

"Electric Funeral" is one of those least favourites of mine I mentioned haha, the other being "Iron Man."

 

[SonOfNun]

"Electric Funeral" is one of those least favourites of mine I mentioned haha, the other being "Iron Man."

 

[no country for old wainds]

'war pigs' and 'hand of doom' i adore, i don't care for 'planet caravan' and 'rat salad' is a throwaway, all the other songs are good but not huge favourites. i'd say it's a tie for me but gun to my head i'd probably go for the A.

 

[CiG]

'war pigs' and 'hand of doom' i adore

My two favourite tracks. I'd probably go with side B though, "Fairies Wear Boots" and "Hands of Doom" are so good.

 

[Bloopy]

Fairies Wear Boots and Electric Funeral are my faves so no contest for me. I'd put Hand of Doom 4th but not far behind War Pigs.

 

[Bloopy]

Pantera's Metal Magic has more of an NWOBHM/Def Leppard-type sound and is thus better than the 2 albums that followed it where they dialled the hair metal cringe up to 10.

 

[SonOfNun]

Albums like Mercenary, Stillborn, Back From the Dead, and Haunted are actually great and the reason most people dump on them is trendfaggery.

 

[CiG]

Haunted is boring but the rest I agree with.

 

[SonOfNun]

Bruh, how can you like Back From the Dead and not Haunted and Warpath? By the Light is the most Six Feet Under-est song outside of SFU's discography The whole album is more towards the Death/Groove spectrum where SFU sits than anything else they did.

Allen West's leads on BtfD are great. They are on Haunted too but there's only a couple of them. That's one thing that might add to the album, but I otherwise enjoy it pretty thoroughly.